Martial Arts Manuals

"Oh, it worked!"

This was a rare opportunity. Skinny Dog scampered over eagerly and hurried up to rub against him.

Then, he stared at his own system panel expectantly.

The next instant, his system panel suddenly blurred before slowly coming back into focus.

"Haha, I improved too..."

Skinny Dog was overjoyed. But after carefully examining his system panel, he suddenly fell silent.

Fang Zhixing glanced over.

[Species: Canine]

[Talent: Dog Bond]

[Bloodline: Mane Wolf]

[Bloodline Burst Skill: Venomous Wolf Fang (Each use consumes 1 life)]

[Remaining Lives: 4]

"No improvement. But you had three lives left before, and now you've recovered to four."

Fang Zhixing raised a brow and pondered, "It seems that after I improve, you won't necessarily improve as well, but your condition should be restored to full."

Skinny Dog's ears drooped as he said disappointedly, "Damn it, I thought I'd learn to read too."

Fang Zhixing rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Keep dreaming. You're a fucking dog. If you could read, wouldn't that be absurdly overpowered?"

Skinny Dog refused to accept that. He flipped open the dictionary to the first page, pressed a paw onto the first character, and said, "This character is pronounced 'shan.' It means mountains, rivers, and regions."

Over the past few days, he had followed Fang Zhixing around and watched Wang Yitong teach him. Little by little, he had also learned a few characters.

Fang Zhixing's eyes lit up. "Not bad. You actually learned by secretly watching."

Skinny Dog lifted his head proudly. "Don't look down on dogs. If I got serious, there'd be nothing left for you to do."

Fang Zhixing pondered briefly, then curled his lips into a smile. "Fine. Since you're being so proactive, I'll give you an important task."

Skinny Dog abruptly backed away several steps, staring straight at Fang Zhixing as he asked warily, "What task? What rotten scheme are you planning now?"

"You have four lives. What the hell are you scared of?"

Fang Zhixing said disdainfully, "The task is simple. Use your handsome looks to get into Luo Kegong's bedroom and study, then look for martial arts manuals."

"You mean a dog won't draw anyone's attention, right?" Skinny Dog bared his teeth.

Fang Zhixing smiled. "This is one of your few advantages. Don't you want to put it to good use?"

Skinny Dog turned his head away disdainfully. "Quit fucking ordering me around!"

"Oh? Three days without a beating and you're already climbing onto the roof?"

Fang Zhixing crossed his arms over his chest and said flatly, "Your hide itching?"

Skinny Dog remained unmoved. "I take the risks while you reap the rewards? No way."

Fang Zhixing laughed in exasperation and scolded, "Idiot, when I improve, don't you improve too? Who's reaping the rewards? No, you've got it even better—you win while lying down and reap the rewards while lying down!"

Skinny Dog argued, "Our improvements aren't in sync. You can keep improving continuously, but whether I improve depends entirely on luck. Tell me, can you guarantee that the next time you improve, I'll definitely improve too?"

Fang Zhixing gave a cold chuckle. "I get it now. You just want a free ride and don't want to put in any effort at all."

Skinny Dog snorted. "Who does anything without benefits? Would you?"

Fang Zhixing thought for a moment and replied, "How about this? If you help me get the manuals, and the next time I improve you don't gain anything at all, I'll compensate you."

Skinny Dog perked up, wagging his tail. "What compensation?"

Fang Zhixing glared. "Other than getting you more good food, do you have any other needs? What, do you want me to find you a female dog?"

"Go fuck yourself!"

Skinny Dog growled, "Listen up. I want beef marrow bones. Nine meals in three days. Feed me first, then I'll work."

"Fine, fine, fine! You've got guts!" Fang Zhixing gritted his teeth in anger.

But when it came to secretly searching for martial arts manuals, Skinny Dog's role was irreplaceable.

In the end, Fang Zhixing gritted his teeth and endured it.

That evening, he took Skinny Dog to an old-established beef shop and ordered a basin of beef marrow bones.

Man and dog ate to their hearts' content.

Afterward, they returned to the village chief's residence.

Fang Zhixing wrote on the ground and told Skinny Dog, "According to Old Wang, Luo Kegong has more than one martial arts manual. The confirmed techniques are Wang Family Inch Fist and Iron Mountain Art. You need to remember these seven characters."

Skinny Dog silently memorized them several times, then nodded. "All right, I remember."

At that moment, night had just fallen, and the moon hung above the treetops.

Skinny Dog shook his body and transformed into another version of himself, leaving it motionless in the room.

Then Fang Zhixing picked up Skinny Dog and, smiling, knocked on Wang Yitong's door to chat idly with him.

A moment later, the other Skinny Dog squeezed out through the crack beneath the door and silently left the side courtyard. He ran and stopped along the way, circled around an artificial rockery, passed through a round archway, and arrived outside a door.

The room was lit, and shadows moved across the window.

This was Luo Kegong's study.

"Master, it's getting late. You should rest."

Standing before the desk, the steward lowered his head and asked with a smile, "The First, Second, and Fourth Madams have arranged to play mahjong with friends. The Fifth Madam is feeling unwell today. Will you be going to the Third Madam's or the Sixth Madam's?"

Luo Kegong yawned and turned his head. "Where's the Seventh?"

The steward hurriedly replied, "Have you forgotten? The Seventh Madam's mother is critically ill. She returned to her family home three days ago."

Luo Kegong scratched his head, hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll go to the Sixth's, then."

"Very well. This servant will notify the Sixth Madam at once."

The steward smiled and turned to leave. When he reached the doorway, he beckoned.

A maid immediately brought over a bowl of goji berry soup and held it to Luo Kegong's lips for him to drink.

Not long afterward, Luo Kegong rose and left the study.

Only two maids remained in the room. They began cleaning, sweeping the floor and wiping the table.

"Woof woof!"

Suddenly, the soft, childish bark of a dog rang out.

The two maids looked closely and saw a little dog climbing over the threshold and entering the study.

"Huh, where did this little dog come from?"

"Does someone in the residence keep a dog?"

The two maids were immensely curious. They picked up Skinny Dog and began teasing him.

Skinny Dog happily stuck out his tongue and licked everywhere, even burrowing into their chests.

"All right, all right, hurry up and finish working, or the steward will scold us again."

A moment later, the two maids put Skinny Dog back on the floor and let him play.

Skinny Dog bounced around the room. Whenever he came across a book, he scratched at it a few times with his paws.

Though this room was called a study, there were not many books in it. Instead, it was filled with exquisite wooden carvings.

That was because Luo Kegong was not a man who enjoyed reading. He preferred playing with wood carvings.

A short while later, Skinny Dog found a heavy brocade box. Its exterior was covered in engraved patterns and decorated with exceptional splendor.

Using all his strength, he pushed the lid open with his head. Inside were several booklets.

On the cover of the topmost one were two somewhat familiar characters.

It seemed to be Inch Fist!

"Found it!"

Skinny Dog was overjoyed and quickly ran out of the study. The moment he stepped outside, something suddenly leaped out from the side.

"Meow~"

Skinny Dog jumped in fright, his fur standing on end.

A large white cat blocked his path. The cat stared fixedly at Skinny Dog, arching its back slightly and baring its teeth in warning.

"Fuck, where did this cat come from?"

Skinny Dog did not want to get tangled up with it. He went around the white cat and took off running.

Who would have thought that, the moment the white cat saw him fleeing, it pounced and swiped at him with its claws.

"Fuck!"

Skinny Dog's face burned with pain. His skin had been scratched open, and his ferocity instantly erupted. He bear-hugged the white cat, opened his jaws, and bit down on its neck.

"Oh no, why are they fighting?" a maid cried out in terror.

"That's the eldest young master's cat! Don't bite it!" the maid shouted frantically.

Skinny Dog released his bite, ignored whether the white cat lived or died, and ran for it.